My sister Elizabeth and I are so happy. We just passed a big milestone for our podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin. We’ve had more thantwo million downloads! (2, 019,041 for anyone who, hypothetically, checks the numbers constantly.)

Our first podcast was on February 25, so we haven’t been doing it very long.

We’ve been thrilled by the enthusiastic response of listeners. It has been great to hear the comments on the voicemail, to read the emails, the tweets, the posts on Facebook…keep them coming! We particularly loved all the comments submitted for the Very Special Episode featuring listeners.

We’re celebrating this milestone, and we also want to help the podcast grow. So let me make a special request — to Make a Friend Happier. For a new podcast like ours, it really helps to get the word out — and for that, word of mouth is the best.

Yes, it’s the Very Special Episode! (I’ve always loved that phrase so very happy to have an excuse to use it.)

We’ve had such terrific comments from listeners that we wanted to give everyone a chance to hear from everyone else. It seemed like a great way to celebrate hitting the milestone of our 20th episode (plus, we’ve had almost two million downloads, yowza). We couldn’t include all comments, alas, but we read them all — so fascinating.

First, we asked people, “If you could change one aspect of a relationship, what would you change?”

Such insightful comments. Elizabeth and I were very impressed by the fact that so many people talked about how they wanted to change themselves, in order to change a relationship. So wise. The only person we can change is ourselves.

We also asked people to call in with their demerits and gold stars. So many interesting ones.

If you want to learn more about the Pomodoro technique that was mentioned, go here.

Elizabeth appreciated all the kind comments about her voice!

We end with a special request of our listeners — to Make a Friend Happier. For a new podcast like ours, it really helps to get the word out — and for that, word of mouth is the best. If you’re a fan, make a friend happier by telling them about the podcast — and don’t just mention it, actually show that person how to subscribe. A lot of people are intrigued by podcasts, but just don’t know how to listen. It really is super-easy. Instructions here, or scroll down to the bottom of this post. We really appreciate the help.

Don’t miss the final comment, right at the very end! Spoiler alert: skunk.

As always, thanks to our terrific sponsors. Want to avoid post-office pain, and buy and print official U.S. postage for any letter or package, right from your own computer and printer? Visit Stamps.com to sign up for a no-risk trial, plus a $110 bonus offer — just enter the promo code HAPPIER.

To listen to this episode, just zip to the bottom of this post and hit the red “play” button.

Or if you’re reading this post by email, click here to view online, to listen to the podcast from this post.

Want to know what to expect from other episodes of the podcast, when you listen to “Happier with Gretchen Rubin?” We talk about how to build happier habits into everyday life, as we draw from cutting-edge science, ancient wisdom, lessons from pop culture—and our own experiences (and mistakes). We’re sisters, so we don’t let each other get away with much!

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: If you’re like me (until recently) you’re intrigued by podcasts, but you don’t know how to listen or subscribe. It’s very easy, really. Really. Instructions here.

Or for an amusing short how-to video made by Ira Glass of This American Life, click here.

If you want to listen to more than one episode, and to have it all in a handier way, on your phone or tablet, it’s better to subscribe. Really, it’s easy.

Again, be sure to subscribe and listen and subscribe on iTunes so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed it, please tell your friends and give us a rating or review. Listeners really respect the views of other listeners, so your response helps people find good material. (Not sure how to review? Instructions here; scroll to the bottom.)

HAPPIER listening!

Also ...

As we mentioned in the podcast, we're doing a Make a Friend Happier drive. For a new podcast, it's important to spread the word, and people are the most likely to give the podcast a try if someone they trust recommends it. If you're a fan, it really helps us if you tell others about the podcast, and then show them how to subscribe! It's super-easy, once you know how, but it can be baffling to do it for the first time. Easy instructions here.

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Ancient philosophers and contemporary scientists agree: to be happy, we need relationships. We need enduring, intimate bonds; we need to be able to confide; we need to feel like we belong; we need to be able to get support–and just as important for happiness, we need to be able to give support.

First, a quick digression: do you try to say “Rabbit, rabbit,” on the first day of the month? I do, and today I remembered. Yay.

Thanks again to everyone who contacted us with a comment for our next episode, the Very Special Episode where we’ll feature our listeners. It has been so fun to pull this episode together. Stay tuned for next week.

This week…

Update: I report on my encounter with the Dalai Lama.

Try This at Home: Enjoy the fun of failure. That’s right, the fun. Send us your stories!

As always, thanks to our terrific sponsors. Visit Framebridge.com — a terrific way to get your art and photos framed, in a super easy and affordable way. Use the code HAPPIER at checkout to get 20% off your first Framebridge order.

Also check out Little Passports, www.littlepassports.com/happier. Keep your kids busy this summer with this award-winning subscription for kids — they get a monthly package in the mail that highlights a new global destination. To save 40% on your first month’s subscription, enter the promo code HAPPY.

We’d love to hear from you: have you ever enjoyed the fun of failure, — and if so, how?

To listen to this episode, just zip to the bottom of this post and hit the red “play” button.

Or if you’re reading this post by email, click here to view online, to listen to the podcast from this post.

Want to know what to expect from other episodes of the podcast, when you listen to “Happier with Gretchen Rubin?” We talk about how to build happier habits into everyday life, as we draw from cutting-edge science, ancient wisdom, lessons from pop culture—and our own experiences (and mistakes). We’re sisters, so we don’t let each other get away with much!

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: If you’re like me (until recently) you’re intrigued by podcasts, but you don’t know how to listen or subscribe. It’s very easy, really. Really. Instructions here.

Or for an amusing short how-to video made by Ira Glass of This American Life, click here.

If you want to listen to more than one episode, and to have it all in a handier way, on your phone or tablet, it’s better to subscribe. Really, it’s easy.

Again, be sure to subscribe and listen and subscribe on iTunes so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed it, please tell your friends and give us a rating or review. Listeners really respect the views of other listeners, so your response helps people find good material. (Not sure how to review? Instructions here; scroll to the bottom.)

HAPPIER listening!

Also ...

I love hearing from people who've read Better Than Beforeand who write to tell me how they're changing their habits. Thank you, readers, for your support and enthusiasm. Curious about the book? Readan excerpt. Listento an audio-clip.Downloadthe discussion guides (for book groups; groups at work; spirituality groups).

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Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin
is one of the most thought-provoking and influential writers on habits and happiness. Her next book, Better than Before, is about how we change our habits. Her books The Happiness Project and Happier at Home were both instant New York Times bestsellers, and The Happiness Project spent more than two years on the bestseller list, including at #1. Her books have sold more than two million copies, in 30 languages. Here, she writes about her adventures as she test-drives ideas from contemporary science and ancient wisdom about building good habits and a happier life.

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In just 21 days, you really can take steps to make your life happier—without spending a lot of time, energy, or money. I’ve created four premium 21 Day Happiness Projects for you to follow, if you want to tackle one of these common happiness challenges. Or buy the Omnibus, to get them all.